Euro 2016: Photos of clashes between England fans and riot police in Lille

French police used tear gas to disperse groups of rowdy, chanting England fans in Lille. This was the fourth time England fans have been involved in public disorder incidents since the start of the Euro 2016 tournament. Despite scattered incidents, the trouble did not reach the levels of the previous weekend in Marseille. However riot police were still firing tear gas to disperse English supporters, many of them apparently drunk, late into the evening.

A football fan gestures towards French riot police in LilleEngland fans gesture at police officers during clashes in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesA football fan is grabbed by French riot police in LilleCharles McQuillan/Getty ImagesPolice and fans clash in the centre of LillePascal Rossignol/ReutersAn England football fan stands near clouds of tear gasCarl Court/Getty ImagesAn England football fan holds his friend near tear gas fired during clashes between police and England fansCarl Court/Getty ImagesPeople run after the police fired tear gas in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesPeople cover their faces as they run after tear gas is fired in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesFrench riot police prepare to tackle English football fans in LilleCharles McQuillan/Getty ImagesA football fan shouts and gestures towards riot police in LilleCharles McQuillan/Getty ImagesFrench riot police march towards drunken English football fans in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesAn England fan tries to help his friend as French riot police encounter hundreds of drunken English football fans in LilleCarl Court/Getty Images

A group of several hundred English fans drinking in local bars had been getting progressively rowdier and noisier. English supporters sang unsavoury songs about Russia and songs about British pilots shooting down German planes in WWII. Police told fans who strayed too far from the bars with their beer to either tip it onto the street or return to the bars.

A loud explosion was heard and some bottles were thrown. Police pinned a man against the ground. Police charged, spraying tear gas in front of them as they ran. Some bystanders took refuge in a nearby pharmacy. Later in the evening, police used gas again on groups of England supporters running through the city centre.

English fans celebrate with beer outside a pub in LillePascal Rossignol/ReutersFootball fans sit on top of road signs in central LillePhilippe Huguen/AFPA football fan cheers in front of a riot police officer in LillePhilippe Huguen/AFPAn England football fan holds a flare outside a pub in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesA French riot police officer talks to a football supporter in LillePhilippe Huguen/AFPAn English football fan gestures at police officers outside a pub in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesEnglish football fans hold a flag in front of a police officer in LilleCarl Court/Getty ImagesA riot policeman hold a tear gas canisterBenoit Tessier/ReutersEnglish football fans drink and chant on a street in LilleCharles McQuillan/Getty ImagesRiot police pass England fans outside a hotel in LillePhilippe Huguen/AFP

Russian and Slovakian fans stayed clear of trouble as they left the Stade Pierre Mauroy and returned to the city centre after their match, in which Slovakia beat Russia 2-1. Setting off a flare in the final 10 minutes of the game was the only notable example of misbehaviour by Russian fans. The incident could still be costly for Russia. It had been warned that it will be kicked out of the competition if fans were to cause any more trouble after unrest at their team's match against England in Marseille.

The potential for further unrest remains as large numbers of English and Welsh supporters are in Lille ahead of their teams' match in Lens, about 40km from Lille.